Mercedes executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe says it is entirely down to Ross Brawn to decide when he wants to step down as team principal.

Lowe was recruited at the start of the season and Mercedes has made no secret of the fact he is part of a succession plan for Brawn's departure. But, despite rumours he will be edged out of the management structure at the end of the season, Brawn insists he has not yet decided on his future.

"When we make a decision we will be able to share it with you," he said at the weekend.

Lowe stressed that there is no pressure from the team for Brawn to rush his decision.

"There's been a lot of talk about this in the last few months," he said. "The fact is that Ross will step back at some point. It's not clear what the timing is for that or whether he will step back completely or remain in a different role within the team.

"At the moment we're waiting for Ross's call on that. In the meantime, I'm working very well with Ross and with Toto, there's no issue there, we work very well together. I would like to say there's no impatience on that aspect, so we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out."